Infant Support

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed toward an infant seat (for example a bouncer seat) including a base frame and a support assembly having a frame and a pliable support suspended from the frame. The pliable support includes a head support portion and a foot support potion. The foot support potion of the pliable support includes an interactive feature operable to be engaged by the feet of an infant positioned in the bouncer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/533,464, entitled “InfantSupport”, filed Sep. 12, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an infant support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infant bouncer seats typically include a toy bar that extends over theseating area. While entertaining a child and stimulating hand and eyemovement, such configurations typically do not encourage leg/feetmovement. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an infant bouncer withan activity that encourages leg movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward an infant bouncer including abase frame and a support assembly having a frame and a pliable supportsuspended from the frame. The pliable support includes a head supportportion and a foot support potion. The foot support potion includes aninteractive feature operable to be engaged by the feet of an infantpositioned in the bouncer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an infant support inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the frame in accordance withan embodiment of the invention, shown in isolation.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the frame shown in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates top views of a pliable support in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3C illustrates a cross sectional view of the foot section of thepliable support, showing an interactive device captured within a pocket.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an activity bar in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elementsthroughout this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an infant support 10 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention includes an infant support assembly 105 andan activity bar 110. The support assembly 105 includes a frame 205 (FIG.2A) and a pliable support 115 suspended from the frame 205. Referring toFIGS. 2A and 2B, the frame 205 includes a base section 210, a backsupport section 215, and leg/foot support section 220.

The base section 210 contacts and supports the back 215 and leg 220sections over a supporting surface (e.g., the floor). The base section210 includes a first lateral member 225A and second lateral member 225Bconnected via intermediate bridge member 230 at lateral member proximalends. The distal ends of the first 225A and second 225B lateral membersare coupled to first 235A and second 235B side members, respectively.The side members 235A, 235B, each coupled to its respective lateralmember 225A, 225B via a coupling member 240, extend upward from thesupporting surface at a predetermined angle. In addition, the sidemembers 235A, 235B are angled inward, toward each other (i.e., towardthe central longitudinal axis of the support 10).

The base section 210 may be formed of flexible and/or resilient materialto enable movement of the side members 235A, 235B with respect to thesupporting surface (e.g., via the movements of an infant positioned withthe support 10). As such, the seating area may rock with respect to thesupporting surface.

The back support section 215 may be a generally-U-shaped structuredefined by a first lateral portion 245A, a curved intermediate portion250, and a second lateral portion 245B. A first hub 255A is coupled tothe first lateral portion 245A and, similarly, a second hub 255B iscoupled to the second lateral portion 245B. Each hub 255A, 255B includesa socket 260 that receives clips disposed on the activity bar 110.

In an embodiment, the curved intermediate portion 250 may be angled outof the plane including the first 245A and second 245B lateral portions.As best seen in FIG. 2B, the intermediate portion is canted at an angleX with respect to the lateral portions 245A, 245B. The degree of angleis not particularly limited. By way of example, the intermediate portion250 may be canted approximately 30°. By providing this canting to theintermediate portion 250, the seat pocket formed by the pliable support115 suspended from the frame 205 may be deeper than the seat pockets ofconventional infant seats. The deeper seat pocket can provide a largerarea for an infant to be positioned. Also, an infant can be betterpositioned to view ongoing activities and its surroundings.

The back support section 215 may be formed of generally rigid materialsuch as hollow metal rods.

The leg support section 220 extends forward from the side members 235A,235B, being coupled proximate the side member distal ends (e.g.proximate (below) the hubs 255A, 255B of the back support section 215).The leg support section 220 includes a generally arcuate member 265extending from the first side member 235A to the second side member235B. A sensory output device 270 may be coupled to the arcuate member265. The sensory output device 270 may include components operable toproduce sound (music, sound effects, etc.). In addition oralternatively, the sensory output device 270 may house a vibrationdevice.

The pliable support 115 couples to the frame 205 (the pliable support115 includes an internal pocket into which the frame sections 215, 220are inserted) such that a seating area is formed that is sufficient tosupport an infant thereon (i.e., the pliable support cooperates with theframe 205 to define the seat pocket). As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, thepliable support includes a flexible body 305 having a head supportsection 315, a foot support section 320, and a torso support section 325disposed between the head and foot section. The head support section 315supports the head of an infant positioned on the support. The headsupport section 315 may include one or more protruding flexible members330 disposed proximate the lateral sides of the pliable support 115. Theprotruding flexible members 330 provide an activity for an infant seatedon the support 10, encouraging the infant to reach/grasp the protrudingmembers. The protruding members 330 may remain within the perimeter ofthe pliable support 115, or may extend beyond the perimeter of thepliable support. The protruding flexible members 330 may be formed ofany suitable materials and possess any shape/dimensions suitable for itsdescribed purpose. In an embodiment, the protruding flexible members 330are formed of softgoods material and are stylized as the ears of ananimal such as a monkey.

The torso support section 325 generally supports the torso of an infantpositioned on the support. The torso support section 325 may include aharness 335 and/or a belt 340 that cooperate to secure an infant withinthe seating area of the support 10.

The leg support section 320 generally supports the legs and feet of aninfant seated on the support 10. The leg support section 320 includes aninteractive feature to encourage movement of the infant's legs and feetwhen seated on the support 10. In an embodiment, the leg section 320 ofthe pliable support 305 includes a first activity area 345 and a secondactivity area 350 disposed proximate the lower end of the body 305. Theactivity areas 345, 350 include an interactive feature such as a sensoryoutput device. By way of example, the interactive feature is amechanical device such as a mechanical sound generating device operableto generate sensory output. By way of specific example, the mechanicalsound generating device is a rattle, a bell device, a crinkle material,a horn, etc.

The interactive mechanical feature may be captured and/or embedded withthe pliable support 115. Referring to FIG. 3C, the activity area isformed as a pocket including a cavity 360 defined by a lower wall 365and an upper wall 370. The interactive mechanical feature 375 isdisposed within the cavity 360, being captured within the pocket suchthat it may be activated via physical engagement of the upper wall 370(e.g., when an infant contacts the upper wall). In an embodiment theinteractive mechanical feature may be in the form of a generallycylindrical canister containing rattle beads and/or bells. It should beunderstood that in other embodiments, the interactive feature 375 may besecured to the exterior surface of the body 305.

With this configuration, the interactive feature (e.g., the mechanicalsound generating device) is capable of being engaged by the feet of aninfant positioned within the child receiving assembly. As such, aninfant is encouraged to move her feet in an effort to engage the feature375 to produce sensory stimulating output.

The pliable support 115 may be formed of any material suitable for itsdescribed purposed. By way of example, the pliable support 115 is formedof a softgoods material such as cotton. Similarly, the pliable support115 may possess any shaped or dimensions suitable for its describedpurpose.

The activity bar 110 couples to the frame 205 via the frame hubs 255A,255B. Referring to FIG. 4, the activity bar 110 is a generally arcuatestructure including a first end portion 405, an intermediate portion 410and a second end portion 415. The end portions 405, 415 are configuredto couple to the support frame 205. In an embodiment, each end portion405, 415 includes a retainer device or clip that mates with the socket260 of the hubs 255A, 255B coupled to the frame 205.

One or more toys 420 may be suspended from the activity bar 110 at anappropriate height for a seated infant to interact with the toy. Forexample, plush or rigid character toys may hang from the intermediateportion 410 of the activity bar 110. The toys 420 may be removablyattached from the activity bar 110. In addition, the toys 420 maygenerate sensory output such as lights and sounds. The activity bar 110may further house electronics and a power source to enable theproduction of electronic sensory output such as lights and sound (e.g.,music and sound effects).

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in theart that various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended thatthe present invention cover the modifications and variations of thisinvention that come within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents. For example, although a infant seat with a bouncer framehas been specifically described, other types of infant seats couldbenefit from the features of the invention. It is to be understood thatterms such as “left”, “right” “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”,“height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”,“inner”, “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describepoints of reference and do not limit the present invention to anyparticular orientation or configuration.

We claim:
 1. An infant support structure comprising: a base configuredto be placed on a support surface; a child receiving assembly supportedabove the support surface by the base, the child-receiving assemblyincluding a backrest portion operable to support the torso of an infantplaced within the child receiving assembly, and a footrest portionextending forward from the backrest portion, the footrest portionconfigured to support the feet of the infant placed within the childreceiving assembly; and a mechanical sound generating device operable togenerate sensory output, the mechanical sound generating device beinghoused within the footrest portion of the child receiving assembly,wherein the mechanical sound generating device is capable of beingengaged by the feet of an infant positioned within the child receivingassembly.
 2. The infant support structure of claim 1 further comprisingan entertainment bar disposed over the child receiving assembly, theentertainment bar positioning an entertainment device over the infantsupport structure.
 3. The infant support structure of claim 2, whereinthe entertainment bar extends from a first lateral side of the infantsupport structure to a second lateral side of the infant supportstructure.
 4. The infant support structure of claim 1, furthercomprising a softgoods cover configured to enclose at least a portion ofthe child receiving assembly and the mechanical sound generating deviceis housed within the cover.
 5. The infant support structure of 4,wherein: the cover comprises a base material layer and a pocket materiallayer secured to the base material layer such that a cavity is definedwithin the cover; and the mechanical sound generating device is housedwithin the cavity.
 6. An infant support comprising: an infant receivingportion comprising: a first frame section including a medial section, afirst arm, and a second arm oriented in substantially parallel relationto the first arm, and a second frame section coupled to the first framesection, the second frame section disposed at an angle with respect tothe first frame section; a support portion supporting the infantreceiving portion above a supporting surface; and a cover suspended fromthe infant receiving portion, the cover extending from the first framesection to the second frame section, wherein the cover defines anengagement surface that engages and supports an infant received withinthe infant support device; and a sensory device operable to generatesensory output, the sensory device being housed within the cover,wherein movement of an infant positioned on the infant receiving portioncontacts the engagement surface, engaging the sensory device andgenerating sensory output.
 7. The infant support of claim 6, wherein:the first frame section defines a backrest of the infant receivingportion, the backrest being configured to support the torso of an infantreceived within the infant receiving portion; and the second framesection defines a footrest of the infant receiving portion, the footrestbeing configured to support the feet of the infant received within theinfant receiving portion.
 8. The infant support of claim 7, wherein thesensory device is housed within the cover at location disposed solelywithin the footrest of the infant receiving portion.
 9. The infantsupport of claim 6, wherein the sensory device is a non-motorizedsensory device.
 10. The infant support of claim 9, wherein the sensorydevice is selected from the group consisting of a rattle and a bell. 11.An infant bouncer comprising: a frame including: a base frame portionconfigured to be placed on support surface, and a receiving portiondisposed above the base frame portion, the receiving portion configuredto receive an infant or child, the receiving portion having an upper endand a lower end; an entertainment portion coupled to the frame proximateto the receiving portion; and a cover suspended from the receivingportion of the frame to define a child support surface, the coversupporting a child positioned on the infant bouncer, wherein the covercomprises an audio generation device.
 12. The infant bouncer of claim11, wherein the cover comprises softgoods material.
 13. The infantbouncer of claim 11, wherein receiving portion of the frame comprises: afirst frame section defining a backrest of the receiving portion, thebackrest being configured to support the torso of an infant receivedwithin the receiving portion; and a second frame section defining afootrest of the receiving portion, the footrest being configured tosupport the feet of the infant received within the receiving portion.14. The infant bouncer of claim 13, wherein the audio generating deviceis housed within the cover a location disposed solely within thefootrest of the receiving portion.
 15. The infant bouncer of 11,wherein: the cover comprises a base material layer and a pocket materiallayer secured to the base material layer such that a cavity is definedwithin the cover; and the audio generating device is housed within thecavity.